The Rangers currently have five defensemen under the age of
28 on their roster and two more top prospects on the way, so it’s very likely
New York will be looking to add some offensive firepower with its first-round
pick, No. 15 overall in the NHL Draft.

Between now and June 24th, we’ll take a look at some of the
forwards that the Rangers might be thinking about taking on draft
day. Today, we look at…

THN – “A skilled offensive player on the small side, Ty
Rattie reminds some scouts of Buffalo
rookie Tyler Ennis in terms of hockey sense and puck skills.Only Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Sven Bartschi
outscored Rattie among draft-eligible players in the WHL, but because of his
size and skating, Rattie is a step below those two.He finds a way to produce despite not being
the best of skaters.What he lacks in
speed and fluid skating, though, he makes up for with slick skills and an
ability to make things happen in tight spaces.‘When his name is all over the scoresheet, what are you going to say?’ a
scout said.‘He might be one of those
guys someone grabs because he scores.It’s hard to score in (the WHL), so somebody might say, ‘Why not take
him?’’ ‘He’s not the prettiest skater,’ another said.‘But because he’s got the talent, it doesn’t
hurt him at this level and probably won’t at the next level.’”

The Scouting Report – “Coming into the season, Ty Rattie was
thought of as a potential top-10 pick for the 2011 Entry Draft, but has seen
his stock drop slightly. Rattie has an excellent shot and the ability to
release it quickly. Rattie has also shown great chemistry with his linemates,
ably setting them up with crisp, solid passes. The biggest issues with Rattie’s
game are that he tends to disappear at times and plays primarily on the
perimeter. Rattie is a work in progress, but he has the raw skills that simply
can’t be taught to a young offensive player.”

Bruins 2011 Draft Watch –“Small but creative playmaking
winger hit the wall a bit in the second half, but is still a solid first-round
prospect with upside. The Albertan isn't a blazer, but is very strong on his
skates and highly elusive, able to slither through defenses and would-be
checkers in full control of the puck. NHL scouts tell us that his second WHL
season was so much more impressive than his first, when he seemed to spend more
time trying the flashy play and forcing things. This season, Rattie was much
more patient, working with his linemates better and not trying to do it all
himself. His 79 points were third on the team behind Ryan
Johansen and Bartschi, and look for Rattie to push for 90 to 100+ points
next season.”

Corey Pronman – “Ty Rattie exploded out of the gates this
season for Portland
and while he didn't maintain that pace down the stretch, he established a high
draft stock for himself with his performance throughout the year. He's a solid
skater who moves pretty fluidly and is very agile and elusive. Rattie can touch
an above-average top speed, but you don't see that consistently from him. His
puck skills are great and grade as a plus tool. He's tremendous in open space
and unless you knock him off the puck, it's very hard to separate it from
Rattie. His passing game is above-average and he shows a moderately advanced
and calm demeanor to his distribution game as he makes quick plays under tight
pressure, but can also set up along the left sideboards on the power play and
really control the action. Rattie's shot tool is solid and could flash
above-average. He doesn't need much to lean into his shot to get it off with
accuracy and velocity. Rattie's physical game will likely top out as fringe and
is below that now, but he does work hard when defenders engage him along the
wall and he will go hard to the net for chances. His hockey sense is
decent—there are times when his vision and awareness will impress and other
times where he simply tries to force the cross-ice pass too much or doesn't
cover his defensive assignment well.”

THN.com – “As the season goes on, Rattie’s draft ranking
moves up. Now firmly ensconced in the projected first round, the six-foot,
170-pounder is making concerns about his size and positioning seem secondary to
the tremendous offensive skill he possesses.‘I know how to find the net,’ Rattie said. ‘I know how to find the open
guy through skates and sticks.’And he
has done just that for Portland
this season. His 45 points in 35 games ranks fifth in the ‘Dub’ and just one
back of linemate Sven Bartschi. It’s also a far cry from the pedestrian numbers
he put up as a highly touted rookie last season.‘Rookie years are always tough,’ Rattie
said. ‘Moving to a different country, leaving my family and friends…I got a
little homesick. The biggest thing right now is I’m confident.’”

Jess Rubenstein – “Callahan size and work ethic.Not as skilled on defense but has made great
strides. Good first step and has a very high Hockey IQ.Has only scratched surface of skill level and
I expect next season to be a breakout year.”

Thoughts: Rattie possesses two qualities that are among the
most concerning for forward prospects: a lack of size and questionable
skating.One of those problems is enough
to worry scouts, having both is definitely reason for worry.Nevertheless, some players are simply
producers offensively despite other glaring knocks on their game.Jess Rubenstein likens Rattie to Ryan
Callahan, music to Rangers’ fans ears.If he has only scratched the surface, he may turn into something
special, but right now he seems like a risk.

The Rangers took Dylan McIlrath from the WHL last year and
frequently draft players from that league.Rattie seems like another character guy that may lack elite skills.In other years, that type of player would be
more appealing for New York,
but right now the Blueshirts sorely lack a game-breaker.